Karadzic Certain of Acquittal

“I care only for the truth and the truth will set me free of all responsibility, except the moral responsibility, because I feel sad for everyone,” said Karadzic.
 
He apologized to the Trial Chamber of The Hague tribunal for his “amateurism”, during the course of the five-year trial in which he defended himself, explaining that he represented himself because he cared only about truth and justice.
 
“The Defence team had limited resources, but we had endless amounts of evidence and we dug up things that no one has seen before. I only strive to find the truth, and whether the documents and the verdict will be aligned is up to the Chamber,” said Karadzic.
 
According to him, there is no doubt that he will be freed, and that after his acquittal, other verdicts of The Hague tribunal should be revised.
 
He said in his closing arguments on Thursday that the number of victims in Srebrenica and Sarajevo was “false and blown out of proportion”, and said fighters were registered as civilian victims.
 
“During 1,200 days of war in Sarajevo, where are the victims? There are 6,000 registered victims, but they are fighters. The only victims are the ones caused by the Bosnian army at the Markale market,” said Karadzic and added that “God will not forgive the lies about victims.”
 
He said that the number of victims in Sarajevo was manipulated and that only four percent of the victims mentioned by The Hague prosecution were in fact civilians.
 
He asked who was guilty of a campaign of terror, which, as he added, only benefitted the Muslims.
 
“I hope the judges will check the documents which the Prosecutors cited only selectively. I don’t think you will take my word for it, but check the documents,” said Karadzic.
 
Speaking about Sarajevo citizens who testified for the Prosecution, Karadzic said they either lied or could not speak about legitimate targets on the Muslim side. He said the Serbs never targeted civilians, but only returned fire.
 
Karadzic also said the “Muslim investigators” who conducted research into the shelling incidents were not objective. He also said that the international peacekeepers were biased in Sarajevo, and that at times they denied the presence of Bosnian Army units, their size and numbers.
 
“Fire was never opened unless it was in response to Muslim fire. We had to take measures to avoid victims,” said Karadzic and added that as Republika Srpska president he could not order a soldier to not defend himself.
Speaking about Srebrenica and Zepa, Karadzic said they lost the status of a protected safe area and that the Muslim army made “necklaces of Serb ears.”
 
“The 28th Division of the Bosnian Army is bloody to the elbows. We had to separate Srebrenica and Zepa, but I did not ask for attack on Srebrenica simply to enter the area,” said Karadzic.
 
According to him, it is ridiculous that all exhumed persons around Srebrenica were shot, claiming that many were killed before 1995 and that some died while trying to break through the woods to Tuzla.
 
Next Tuesday, on October 7, The Hague Prosecution and Defence will discuss the other side closing arguments.